New Delhi, Sept 15 (HS): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, a day after their Group A clash with India in Dubai.

Following the high-voltage encounter, the PCB lodged an official protest before the referee, citing that under the leadership of captain Suryakumar Yadav, Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the match.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, in a social media post, confirmed that the board has lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), alleging a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC’s laws related to the spirit of cricket. The PCB has called for Pycroft’s immediate removal from his Asia Cup duties.

The move, according to the PCB, was prompted by the referee’s inaction over the incident. “Team manager Naveed Cheema strongly objected to the unacceptable behavior of the Indian players, terming it against sportsmanship and the spirit of the game. As a mark of protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony,” the board said in a statement.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar